CREATIVE MANAGER
A leading management company based in North London is looking to recruit a Creative Manager. Applicants for this new position within the organisation should have in depth experience of the following: 1. Artwork origination process from concept to production and 2. Video commissioning.
In addition the successful applicant must have great communication skills with both colleagues and artists along with an up to date knowledge of current creative trends. An ability to work under pressure on multiple projects is also essential. To apply, please send your CV and covering letter to [email protected].

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FABRIC PRESS DEPARTMENT
We are looking for someone to join us within the fabric Press Department. We're looking for someone who has a few years experience within a London/UK music based PR agency or in-house department; experience in plugging/managing radio campaigns (London, national, regional & international experience all advantageous); who understands radio globally and has contacts appropriate to fabric within radio - online, digital, commercial, pirate, community, government subsidised radio, podcasts; has experience with print/online/digital PR campaigns (London, national, regional, student & international experience all advantageous); has experience with industry, trade, internal business, corporate and event press (advantageous but not essential); has strong copy writing skills; is friendly, passionate, savvy, honest, hard working, highly organised, very diligent and a completer finisher; has very strong administrational and organisational skills, is computer literate and numerate; is extremely flexible in time and outlook; has a good understanding of electronic music and knows what fabric's ethos is. Salary to commensurate on experience; start date is immediate. Please send CV and covering letter emailed to Pearl Jones - [email protected] Closing date for applicants: 5pm Wednesday May 28, 2008.

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ADVERTISING MANAGER AT ROCK SOUND

CD SINGLE RIP – WOOLWORTHS TO STOP SELLING THEM
Woolworths is to stop selling CD singles, which some seem to think is a big story, though I must admit I'd assumed they'd stopped selling them years ago. But then again, whenever I go into Woolies I get distracted by the pick n mix, so I can't say I've checked all that recently. The high street retailer has declared that the format is in "terminal decline" and that they will be withdrawn from their stores in August. However, they will still stock the occasional single release likely to sell by the warehouse load, which basically means debut singles from X Factor winners and the occasional charity record.

Figures show that CD singles are down a third this year compared to last year, and as surely only about nine were sold last year, that means just six sold so far in 2008. OK, perhaps a few more than that. But not many. Does anyone know anyone who has bought a CD single in the last three years? No, of course not. Woolies are right, it's a format that is dead in the water. Long live the revival of 7 inch vinyl, that's what I say. Oh and cassette singles. We should revive them - possibly the most charmless music format ever – bring them back please.

Anyway, I digress, and really should get on with quoting Woolies Commercial Director Jim Batchelor. Here we go. "Everyone remembers buying their first record at Woolworths, which is why there is a degree of sadness in today's announcement. The reality is though that more and more people can't remember the last time they purchased a CD single. But music and songs are still such a huge part of people's lives. They now choose to access both new and old music through downloading".

I'm not sure I remember buying my first record at Woolworths you know, so I have to take issue with Jim there. First quarter of chocolate limes, that I remember distinctly. Anyway, you'll notice Jim's clever segue into downloading there, which is a way of plugging Woolies all new download platform, which the retailer hopes can pick up a slice of the singles market of the future, which is online of course. The new service will sell a mixture of WMA and MP3 files, with a few price cutting offers at launch, including top ten singles for 59 pennies.

Despite my shoulder shrugging and "so what" response to this story so far, it probably does deserve top billing given Woolies' traditional status as the UK's biggest seller of physical singles – it had 25% of the market in 2006. The decline of the CD single is no secret or surprise, of course, but Woolworths' announcement is definite proof of that fact – and that when it comes to single releases downloading is very much the future. But given that physical CD single releases had long been, in the main, a loss leader exercise to promote albums, surely the new dominance of more cost efficient downloads is no bad thing.

Remains to be seen if labels can persuade journalists that, as CD singles fall out of circulation, they should accept their review copies of new releases digitally rather than on CD. Us music reviewers are still rather attached to our physical formats aren't we? Luddites.

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I WAS IN SHOCK: R KELLY TRIAL UPDATE
So, the prosecution wheeled in another witness yesterday who is convinced it is R Kelly who appears in that much previously reported sex tape. In fact, she's "110% sure", which I'm not sure is mathematically possible, and which might be a technicality Kelly's lawyers may want to leap onto, them being good at tackling charges with technicalities.

Anyway, another day in the R Kelly trial in Chicago where the R&B star is accused of filming himself having sex with a minor. He denies the charges, claiming it is not him in the video at the centre of the trial, and nor is the girl who is also seen who the prosecution claim she is.

Prosecution lawyers have been calling to the witness stand various people who knew Kelly and/or the alleged victim, and asking them to say that – despite the blurriness – they are certain it is Kelly and/or the girl in the vid. Yesterday it was the turn of Lindsey Perryman, who told the court that she worked for Kelly as a producer and PA on and off from 2000 to 2007.

She said she didn't see the video – despite all the coverage of it – until December 2007 when approached by prosecutors. She said she didn't want to believe it was Kelly in the video because he was a "great boss" and had been "very, very good to me". She added "I was in shock and I wanted to be 110% sure". So, she said, she looked at an album cover featuring Kelly and then watched the video a second time, after which she was 110% sure [a] that it was Kelly seen in the sex tape and that [b] she knew the identity of the girl, who, she added, she had met at Kelly's studio while working for him.

Two other witnesses added their support to the prosecution's claims regarding the identity of the girl. One of those witnesses was one Tjada Burnett, a family friend of the alleged victim, who said she could identify the girl by her "cheeks, her nose, her facial structure", adding that the girl would be about 12 or 13 at the time the tape was made.

The case continues.

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RIAA DROPS ALLOFMP3 LAWSUIT
The Recording Industry Association Of America has announced that is has dropped its lawsuit against AllofMP3.com, mainly because the rogue Russian download platform is no longer operational, which seems like a good reason to me.

Confirming they were dropping their action, they told Bloomberg that they considered their AllofMP3.com action had been a "successful anti-piracy initiative", given that the site closed down last summer. Though, as previously reported, despite the lawsuits and successful lobbying on a political level to persuade the Russian authorities to take action against AllofMP3.com, which sold major label music at cut price rates in DRM-free formats, in the end it was a decision by the major credit card firms to no longer accept payments that kicked off the beginning of the end for the service. 

Of course, soon after AllofMP3.com closed, a new and similar service called MP3Sparks launched which, while not officially linked to the former in a corporate sense, allowed users to use their AllofMP3 login and passwords, so is essentially a new version of the same thing. The RIAA say they are aware of MP3Sparks.com, but are confident the Russian authorities will act to bring them in line with international copyright laws, or close them down. RIAA VP International Affairs Neil Turkewitz said: "Hopefully, the Russian government will do what they need to do".

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EARLE HAGEN DIES
Songwriter Earle Hagen has died at his home in California at the age of 88.

Born in Chicago, the musician grew up in LA and began playing the trombone whilst at school, graduating at sixteen to begin touring with big bands. He enlisted in 1942 and served in the Army Air Force's radio production unit, writing and arranging for its 65 piece orchestra. During this period he began arranging music for Hollywood movies, and in 1946 was signed to Century Fox, where he worked on films such as 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' and 'There's No Business Like Show Business'.

In the fifties, Hagen started to compose themes for television shows - amongst them 'The Andy Griffith Show', 'The Dick Van Dyke Show', and 'The Mod Squad'. He worked on more than 3000 TV programmes during the course of his career. Mike Post, composer for the likes of 'Law & Order' and 'NYPD Blue' paid tribute to Hagen, saying "not only was Earle the Father of modern day television music - but his mentoring godfathered countless other composers into the field. He lived his entire life with kindness and generosity".

An Oscar nominee, Grammy Award winner, and recipient of the BMI's lifetime achievement award, Hagan was also the author of three books on scoring. He's survived by his wife, two sons, three stepchildren and four grandchildren.

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SHIRLEY BASSEY UNDERGOES STOMACH SURGERY
Shirley Bassey is recovering in a Monaco hospital having undergone emergency stomach surgery. She was admitted to hospital last week after complaining of stomach pains. No further information has yet been released. However, a spokesperson told BBC News that she is "making a good recovery and doctors are happy with her progress".

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MAN DIES AT GATECRASHER FESTIVAL
Police have revealed that a man from Northampton died at last weekend's Gatecrasher Festival. The body of the man, who is yet to be identified, was found in a tent covering one of the festival's smaller stages in the early hours of Sunday morning. A police notice displayed around the event, said: "While we are not at this stage linking the death to the misuse of drugs, intelligence sources, police and security operators have identified and arrested a number of drug dealers within the event". A post mortem is expected to take place this week.

Bad weather led to flooding at the event, which forced a number of artists, including Crystal Castles, Hot Chip and headliners The Chemical Brothers, to pull out.

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TRICKY BLAMES HIP HOP FOR CRIME
Tricky has said that today's hip hop artists need to take responsibility for the increase in gun and knife crime in the UK. Speaking to Uncut magazine, he said: "I love hip hop, but it has to take some responsibility for the gun culture we've got over here. We're getting super-violent. You can walk around the Bronx for days on end and nobody bothers you. In England, you can say the wrong thing in a pub and, before you know it, you've got a bottle over your head or a bullet in your brain. English people have got quicker tempers".

He added that sloppy appearances are also to blame: "What have they got to get them through hard times? We had punk rock and ska and bands that made you feel you could do anything. We were into clothes in a big way. Anything to take our minds off the stress. They don't have to think about getting dressed. They get the baseball cap and trainers on, that's all it is. But they've got nothing to take the pressure off. That's maybe why they're more violent than we were. That and the fact they have access to serious artillery. We used to throw stones at each other. Now they shoot bullets at each other. Hip hop has got a lot to do with that".

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CUTTING PINK WITH KNIVES SPLIT
Hardcore pop band Cutting Pink With Knives have announced they are to split once they complete their current touring commitments, which is sad, because I can't make it to any of those gigs.

In a message posted on the band's MySpace page, frontman Eddy Frankel said: "We are splitting up. No drama, no hatred between us. We're just calling this shit to an end. It's hard to know how to say goodbye to something that's been the most important thing in our lives for the past three or four years. Why are we breaking up? Well, I started this band to get chicks, and to be totally honest, it hasn't worked. Chris joined the band to fund his hair gel habit, and we've not made enough money. Alex joined the band to get a foothold on the international stock market, but we've got no shares. It's a sad, sad state of affairs; a chick free, hair-product depleted and financially rocky state of affairs that we're waving goodbye to".

The band plan to release a compilation of their final recordings at some point over the coming months. Here are those final shows:

30 May: Liverpool, Korova
31 May: Bradford, Love Apple
11 Jul: Birmingham, Supersonic Festival

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GROHL DENIES METALLICA LETTER
Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl has denied writing that previously reported letter to Metallica. Well, he doesn't deny writing it, just that it was a 'serious letter' to Metallica, or a letter at all really.

Writing on the Foo Fighters' official website, he said: "Just wanted to write a quick note to clear up this whole 'Open letter to Metallica' fiasco. For the record, I never 'wrote' anything to Metallica. I was asked by a journalist to give a quick message to Metallica in the studio. So, I rattled that quote off the top of my head. No biggie, right? Somehow it became my 'open letter' to the band, and now it's been picked up by everyone (as if anyone really cares!). Now, it's true that I've been a loyal fan of this band, and I can't wait to hear the new shit, but an 'open letter' to the band? Nah. Not my style. I'd rather just text 'em..."

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VELVET REVOLVER TURNED DOWN REALITY SHOW
Velvet Revolver drummer Matt Sorum has said that his band were approached to take part in a reality show to find a replacement singer for the departed (or chucked?) Scott Weiland. The musician told Artisan News that a number of TV types had been in touch, including Mark Burnett, producer of 'Rock Star: Supernova', but that the band felt that "wasn't the right forum" to recruit a new vocalist. He also added that we can expect to hear an announcement on the subject of a new singer within the next few weeks.

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ORIGINAL SIMPLE MINDS LINE UP PLAN NEW MATERIAL
The original line-up of Simple Minds are set to work together for the first time in 27 years. The band have, of course, produced new music and been on tour in recent years, but now all five founding members - Brian McGee, Derek Forbes, Mick McNeil, Charlie Burchill and Jim Kerr, of course – are to enter the studio in June with the aim of producing at least two new tracks.

Jim Kerr said "Of course I am excited with the prospect of working with the original line - up once more. I had always believed that the day would come when we would get the opportunity to do so. The last time we worked together was on our 'Sons And Fascination'/'Sister Feelings Call' album, featuring songs like 'The American', 'Themes For Great Cities', 'Love Song' etc, and it is still considered by many as among our best ever work. We have a lot to live up to, but we intend to have some fun attempting to do just that".

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STARS BACK WOGAN'S EUROVISION CONCERNS
Following on from Terry Wogan's comments that political voting is ruining the Eurovision Song Contest, some more key figures in the world of cutting edge entertainment, Simon Cowell and Bruce Forsyth, have backed him up. Cowell said: "If people enjoy it as entertainment, that's great, but it's all a bit empty and meaningless as a competition". Well, he would know, I suppose. Meanwhile, Forsyth told The Guardian: "It's all so biased, it's developed into a farce. I've stopped watching it, the last couple of years".

What do you think? Comment on our CMU Euovision blog here

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NEW USHER ALBUM ILLEGALLY DOWNLOADED, A LOT
According to reports, Usher's new album 'Here I Stand' was illegally downloaded more than half a million times before it was released this week.

The whole album appeared on the internet a week ahead of its release, and Digital Music News noted on Friday that multiple full album download listings had appeared on BitTorrent tracker Mininova.org. Media tracking firm BigChampagne, meanwhile, say that individual tracks were leaked as early as March, though most of the album downloads – a total of 554,716 via BitTorrent alone – happened in the week before the LP's release.  

Tracks were leaked earlier in the year, of course, by producer Polow da Don, who, as previously reported, claimed that he released it as a tactical manoeuvre to gain radio play and publicity for the album. 

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BORRELL GETS SUPPORT FROM MPS
As you may remember, Johnny Borrell is set to perform solo on 3 Jun at London's Science Museum, for The Big Ask, which, as you also probably remember, is Friends Of The Earth's campaign calling for a new climate change law for the UK. Anyway, the new news is that he's set to be supported by a five piece band of MPs, consisting of Cheeky Girl fiancé Lembit Opik, former Runrig star/SNP type Peter Wishart, Tory Anne Milton, and two Labour MPs Emily Thornberry and Ian Cawsey. The group, calling themselves The Aviators, will perform John Denver's 'Leaving On A Jet Plane' in the museum's Aviation Room to highlight one of the key points of the Big Ask campaign, the need to reduce airline carbon emissions.

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SINGLE REVIEW: Lorraine - When I Return to the World (Waterfall Records) Lorraine's stadium pop should make them massive, but they probably never will be, somehow. With yet another slice of radio-friendly pop for their fourth single, the Norwegian trio show themselves to be effective progeny of countrymates A-ha, albeit sounding like a slightly watered-down version. The group deal in melodic, well-produced pop-rock, with anthemic choruses and a liberal scattering of electronics amid the soaring guitars. I can picture Lorraine on the cover of Smash Hits sometime in the late 80s or even early 90s; in truth, their sound is more Radio 2 than Radio 1, which is no bad thing, really, even if it might make the marketing of Lorraine a tad more difficult. Elsewhere, b-side, 'Beyond The Sky', a slightly more synth-heavy affair, could almost be mid 80s OMD, whilst remixes from Camel Rider and Manhattan Clique give 'WIRTTW' a safe but effective disco-friendly makeover. MS Release Date: 19 May Press Contact: La Digit [all] back to top

BUY IT!

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SCOUTING FOR GIRLS TOUR, OH YES
Woo, as they say, normally on hearing something exciting. Scouting For Girls will release new single 'It's Not About You' on 28 Jul, or will re-release I should say really, given that track was out as a single just under a year ago too. The band have also announced some lovely tour dates, as follows...

1 Nov: Bournemouth, Solent-BIC
2 Nov: Plymouth, Pavillions
3 Nov: Brighton, Centre
4 Nov: Southend, Cliffs Pavillion
6 Nov: Newcastle, Academy
7 Nov: Grimsby, Auditorium
8 Nov: Wolverhampton, Civic
10 Nov: Manchester, Apollo
12 Nov: Swindon, Oasis
14 Nov: Cardiff, Arena
15 Nov: Liverpool, University
16 Nov: Nottingham, Arena
18 Nov: Leeds, Academy
20 Nov: Glasgow, Academy
22 Nov: Doncaster, Dome
23 Nov: Portsmouth, Guildhall
27 Nov: London, Brixton Academy

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CRYSTAL CASTLES ANNOUNCE UK TOUR
Crystal Castle will return to the UK this September for a headline tour. Tickets for the dates go on sale on Friday.

Tour dates:

2 Sep: Newcastle, Academy
3 Sep: Sheffield, Leadmill
4 Sep: Leeds, Cockpit
7 Sep: Coventry, Kasbah
9 Sep: Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
10 Sep: Bristol, Thekla
12 Sep: Birmingham, Academy 2
13 Sep: Manchester, Academy 2
14 Sep: Preston, 53 Degress
16 Sep: Brighton, Concorde
17 Sep: Cambridge, Junction
18 Sep: London, Electric Ballroom

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COLDPLAY REVEAL UK ARENA DATES
Coldplay will play ten shows around the UK this December, ending with two nights at London's O2 Arena. Tickets go on sale on Friday.

Tour dates:

1+2 Dec: Birmingham NIA
5+6 Dec: Glasgow SECC
7 Dec: Sheffield Arena
10 Dec: Liverpool Echo Arena
11+12 Dec: Manchester MEN Arena
14+15 Dec: London O2 Arena

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PUNCH BROTHERS TOUR
Progressive bluegrass band (no I don't really know what that means either) Punch Brothers have also announced a UK tour, following their sold out dates in Glasgow and London earlier this year. You should all go and see them because, as The Word said, "Can anyone, anywhere, play anything any better than Chris Thile plays the mandolin?  (Clue: they can't)". Here's your dates, press info from PPR. 

11 Jul: Sugar Club, Dublin
12 Jul: Trinity Centre, Bristol  
13 Jul: Glee Club, Birmingham
14 Jul: Arts Theatre, London
16 Jul: The Sage, Gateshead  
17 Jul: Oran Mor, Glasgow  
18 Jul: Academy 2, Manchester  

More on these guys at www.punchbrothers.com

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PROMOTERS DENY LED ZEP APPEARANCE IN CANADA
A spokeswoman for the AEG Live has spoken about rumours that Led Zeppelin were set to play a four night residency in Toronto this year, and confirmed that it is just that, a rumour. Debra Rathwell is quoted as saying: "Alison Krauss and Robert Plant are touring together till at least the end of July, and Plant has made it perfectly clear that he doesn't want to tour with Led Zeppelin. Of course, stranger things have happened, but I can tell you that my office is not involved in any Led Zeppelin concerts in Toronto or anywhere else".

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BESTIVAL FANCY DRESS THEME ANNOUNCED
To the people who I told that the fancy dress theme for Bestival this year was 'pop stars' I apologise – I got confused, that was the fancy dress theme for the Bestival party that took place last weekend. The theme for Bestival proper has only just been announced, and it's '30,000 Freaks Under The Sea', which basically means anything you find in the sea. Like, erm. Well, fish. Octopi. Shells. Mermaids. Divers. Submarines. Shopping trolleys. Sewage. That sort of thing.

Bestival chief Rob da Bank says this: "We wracked our collective brains til they turned to custard and eventually came up with '30,000 Freaks Under The Sea' - essentially another open-ended theme open to abuse and many different angles which we hope you'll follow!  This year we'll do a night parade as well as daytime one, so make sure you light up bright - calling all pesky squids, little urchins, deep sea divers and Yellow Submarines!"

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ALBUM REVIEW: Roland Appel – Talk To Your Angel (Sonar Kollecive) Roland Appel is part of the Truby Trio, has recorded with Christian Prommer as Fauna Flash, and now presents this, his debut solo album, which leans on techno, but with a distinct soulful charm. From the arty opener, 'Inner Soul', we are taken through various creative soundscapes. 'Secrets' builds into techno with the slightly haunting vocals of Afro-German actress Araba Walton, and 'Changes' has an epic feel with its stabbing high end notes. 'New Love' chills out with some 80s inspired beats, and 'Angel' floats along continuing the chill with a wispy lyrical background from Walton, then 'Lost Valley' starts slowly then takes us onto Teutonic dancefloors with its tribal percussion. 'Dark Soldier' is the highlight which made big inroads at Sonar last year – sweeping malevolent synths with moments of calm. 'Unforgiven' is a little dull – its slightly ethnic synth arrangement doesn't work brilliantly, and 'Child Song' is downtempo, but too overindulgent and not the best conclusion to this album, which still weighs up as a highly rateable debut solo project. PV Release Date: 26 May PR Contact: Rocketscience [all] back to top

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IE TO MANAGE MORRISSEY
London based ie:music have announced they are taking over the management of that Morrissey fella, though technically he'll be managed by Josie Cliff, who heads up the firm's US division ie:west, though she will be supported  UK based ie:music founders Tim Clark and David Enthoven. Cliff will take over Mozza management duties from former Sanctuary US boss Merck Mercuriadis, who was especially vocal during the whole NME dispute last year. ie:music are best known for managing Robbie Williams, but also manage Sia, Craig Armstrong, Passenger, Archive and the Asteroids Galaxy Tour.

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EU COMMISSIONER CALLS FOR FORUM ON PRIVATE COPYING
Charlie McCreevy, Europe's Internal Market Commissioner, has called on the music industry and the electronics industry to meet and hammer out once and for all the issues around private copying. As much previously reported, there has been much debate both in the UK and across the world regarding the levies which are charged, or not, on devices used by punters to make private copies of music – traditionally the second copy of CDs many people make for private use.

In many countries a levy has been traditionally charged on the sale of CDRs and blank cassettes which is passed back to the music community as compensation for private copies that music fans may or may not make. However, as sales of CDRs and cassettes fall as more and more people make second copies by ripping CDs to their PC or portable music player, proposals have been made to attach the levy to the sale of said music players – something some have dubbed the 'iPod tax'.

In the UK there has never been a levy system because private copying is, technically speaking, illegal. That said, under the current review of UK copyright law private copying may be allowed. The Gowers Report that preceded that review proposed legalising private copying without a levy, though the music industry is lobbying for a levy system to be introduced. Well, a slightly complicated private copying licensing system, which is a variation on the levy theme.

But moves to introduce an iPod tax has proved controversial wherever it has been seriously considered, and the manufacturers of the portable music players – Apple in particular – are sure to kick up a fuss. It is with that in mind that McCreevy has called for a pan-European forum where music and electronics firms can discuss the various proposals, what levies should or shouldn't be charged, and at how money generated by the levy (or licence) system can be best or better distributed.

McCreevy's call for a forum follows a consultation on the issue which finished on 18 Apr and which, according to Music Week, received submissions from 130 organisations.

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THE ORCHARD RENEW AND EXPAND DEAL WITH ONE MEDIA
Independent digital content distributor The Orchard has announced it has renewed its partnership with UK based One Media, who own rights in 70,000 music tracks and videos, including work by the likes of Ike and Tina Turner, George McCrae, Edwin Starr and Marmalade. The new deal will also see Orchard represent One Media through its Brand Entertainment division, which provides "digital media solutions" to brands and ad agencies. It will also mean The Orchard will represent the 124 Pavarotti recordings that One Media have just secured digital rights to.

Confirming the deal, One Media MD Michael Infante told CMU: "Our relationship with the Orchard has been a 'road to success' for bringing One Media's music to the digital market. In a little under two years we have listed over 1,200 albums so far, with a further 800 now in the pipeline. Our acquisitive trail for music and music video copyrights has been efficiently delivered to all websites currently within the Orchard's remit. We are delighted to have extended deal and look forward to a mutually beneficial trading relationship".

The Orchard CEO Greg Scholl added: "Michael and the One Media team are innovators and investors in this ripe time for independents. We will continue to serve them in the future as we have in the past – driving catalogue sales through innovative programs and promotions, and ensuring One Media derives full value from its exciting new acquisitions by optimizing their sale in the digital realm.  Further, bringing this unique content into our Brand Entertainment group, we expect to drive new, incremental value for One Media".

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AIM BRING TOGETHER RADIO AND MUSIC TYPES
The Association Of Independent Music has teamed up with that their Radio Academy to host an event designed to bring together everyone working in indie labels and specialist music radio to chat and discuss and all that jazz. Among the people taking part will be, on the radio side, Radio 1's Huw Stephens and Paul Thomas and Channel 4 Radio's Hermeet Chadha, and on the music side Visible Noise's Julie Weir, Dune Music's Janine Irons, XL's Ben Beardsworth, Ninja Tune's Peter Quicke, and music PR Richard Wootton. It all takes place at Cargo on 12 Jun, go to the events section at www.musicindie.com for details.

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COMMERCIAL STATIONS TO SPONSOR GUILFEST
Fourteen commercial radio stations from around the South East have come together via trade body RadioCentre to sponsor GuilFest. BBC Radio 2 used to sponsor the annual music festival, so the move may be part of the commercial radio sector's attempts to join together to better compete with the Beeb. Eagle Radio will be recording at the festival and will share highlights with other local stations, including Mercury FM, Ocean FM, Radio Jackie, Delta FM, Dream, Kestral FM, Kick FM, Isle of Wight Radio, Quay Radio, Spirit FM, County Sound, Star Radio Bristol and Star Radio Cambridge.

Commenting on the sponsorship, RadioCentre's Florence Milvain told reporters: "We're delighted that commercial radio is involved with GuilFest and will be broadcasting from the festival this year, it really has something for everyone and it is great that listeners will be able to tune into one of 14 local radio stations and hear highlights".

GuilFest chief Tony Scott added: "This is our 17th year and we now have a licence for 24,000 per day. This is a mainstream festival with household name artists for the people of the South East so having all the local commercial radio stations promoting the event couldn't be better".

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GMG INVOLVED IN DUBLIN RADIO LICENCE BID
The Guardian's radio firm GMG Radio is a 45% shareholder in one of three bids for a new Dublin radio licence. It's a classic rock licence, so some reckon that if successful GMG would use it as a fourth outpost for its recently launched Rock Radio brand. Two other groups have bid for the rock licence, which is expected to be awarded by the Irish radio body in September.

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GAYDAR HAS MOST SUCCESSFUL WEBSITE IN UK RADIO
GaydarRadio.com is the UK's most visited radio website, according to new stats from Hitwise released to Radio Today by the Gaydar company. They claim to have 250,000 unique visitors a month, and 3.5 million page impressions, which gives them a 19.74% share of the radio website market, ahead of Classic FM on 15.52% and Virgin Radio on 13.15%, and despite (and maybe because of) GaydarRadio only being available offline via DAB in London and Sussex and on Sky.

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LOHAN TO MARRY RONSON
No, not him. Lindsay Lohan is rumoured to be engaged to Samantha Ronson, sister of Mark. Which is interesting. Lohan was seen wearing an engagement ring at a Dolce & Gabanna party at the Cannes Film Festival, and reportedly told former lover Calum Best about the engagement. According to The Daily Star, she is already referring to herself as Lindsay Ronson and planning a ceremony at Dolly Parton's Dollywood theme park. Hmmm.

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KYLIE PLANS 40TH BIRTHDAY
Kylie Minogue says she's planning to drink until she pukes on Elton John's dog for her 40th birthday. No, okay, she didn't say that. But how am I supposed to work with a story that she's taking a break from her current world tour for a small gathering with close friends and family? Boring.

Okay, so last week she held a party for 100 guests in a hotel overlooking the Aegean Sea in Greece, but that was just for the people working on her tour, her record label and her management. Elton John wasn't even there, let alone his dog. On Wednesday night she's flying her mum, dad and sister Dannii over to Germany for a meal, before resuming her tour on Thursday night.

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BEYONCE, BOND AND WINEHOUSE
According to reports, some industry 'insiders' have claimed that Amy Winehouse has effectively been replaced by Beyonce as regards the music for the new Bond film. It's all a bit vague though. It's claimed Mark Ronson told reporters that he had scrapped his 'Quantum Of Solace' collaboration with Amy because she was not "ready" to work on music, but it's also claimed that Winehouse has confirmed that potential songs have been created and submitted, and is now, as previously reported, waiting to hear back from the film's producers. I always thought that the way they did it was to ask a number of different artists to submit tracks and then choose from that, personally. I expect we'll find out who has done the track eventually, and then all this speculation will be forgotten

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CAMBRIDGE STUDENTS ANALYSE WINEHOUSE LYRICS
More Winehouse stuff now, and according to reports, students at Cambridge University have been asked in exams to compare Amy's lyrics for 'Love Is Losing Game' to lyrics from songs by Bob Dylan, Billie Holiday and Walter Raleigh.

A spokesman for the institution said that students of English had always been asked to compare the work of writers and lyricists working at different times, and that the question was "interesting, but not news". Student newspaper The Cambridge Student said undergraduates were "surprised", however, to find the lyrics included alongside those from Bob Dylan's 'Boots Of Spanish Leather', Billie Holiday's 'Fine And Mellow' and Sir Walter Raleigh's 'As You Came From The Holy Land' in the exam.

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BOYZONE "OUT-SEX" TAKE THAT
Boyzone stripped down to their underwear and ran on treadmills at their first reunion show on Monday night in a bid to "out-sex" Take That. I thought Take That had been running on the "classy older men" ticket, though. Maybe I'm wrong.

Anyway, Ronan Keating told The Sun: "[Take That] raised the bar and we had to follow. We needed to out-sex them! We have been working out with a fitness coach for three months. We had all put on a few pounds and the directors took one look at us and said, 'For starters, you're all going to have to lose some weight and get in shape or we're going to have to pull all the dance routines'. The fitness regime got us in such good shape we decided to strip off and show off our new look!"

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